Key tag



March 3, 1931. R|DGwAY 1,794,498

KEY TAG Filed Aug. 14, 1928 ln venTof. HerberT NRidgway Patented Mar. 3, 1931 HEBBERT N. BIDGWAY, OF WINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS KEY TAG Application filed August 14, 1928. Serial No. 299,469.

This invention relates to key tags such as are used for identifying keys, and the object of the invention is to provide a novel key tag which can be readily applied to any key without the use of an tools and by Eneans of which the key can e easily identi- My im roved key tag has a general hood sha e and is adapted to fit over and enclose the ead of the key, said tag having an aperture, therethrough which is situated to be aligned with the ring-receiving aperture in the key so that when the tagged key is put on the ring the latter will pass through both the aperture in the key and the aperture in the tagvand will thus hold the tag in position. Furthermore, the fact that the tag has a hood shape and embraces the head of the key serves as additional means for retaining the tag in proper position relative to the key when the latter ison the ring.

In order to give an understanding of my invention I have illustrated in the drawings some selected embodiments thereof which will now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a key tag so embodyin my invention;

Fig. 2 s ows the tag a plied to a key and the latter fastened on a ey ring;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the tag as used inconnection with a different form of key;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a different embodiment of the invention;

ig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a key tag having a diiferent construction from that shown in Figs. 1 to 5;

Fig. 7 is a view of the label member;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a still different embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99, Fig. 8. As stated above, my improved key tag is a hood-shaped device which is adapted to fit over and enclose the head of the key. I Such a tag is shown at 1 in Fi 1, and it is formed with the two separate sides 2 and r the hood with by makin 3 which are connected at their peripheries by the wall 4. The side walls 2, 3 will preferably have a generally semi-circular shape, although the precise shape is not important. The hood-shaped end as shown at 5 to permit the head 6 of a key 7 to be inserted and the device will preferably be of suflicient size to substantially enclose the head 6 of the key.

The side walls 2 and 3 are provided with apertures 11 which are so located as to be in line with the ring-receiving aperture 8 of the key 7 when the head of the key is inserted into the hood.

The hood-shaped device 1 has associated with it a word or legend by which the key to which it is applied may be identified. This identifying word or legend may be placed directly on one of the side walls 2 or 3, or it may be on a separate piece of paper, metal or fibre, which is enclosed within the hood and which may be read either'by providing a window or sight opening, or the hood of some transparent ma-. terial suc as celluloid. In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the identifying word or legend 1s imprinted or placed directly on one of the side faces of the hood. The ta shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may be made of any suitable material adapted to have the identifying word written or printed thereon.

Another form of the invention is shown in Fig. 5, in which the hood is provided with a protective covering, preferably of transparent material such as celluloid. In this embodiment the complete tag comprises the inner member which has the identifying word or legend printed or written or otherwise-impressed thereon and the outer protective covering 9 which is transparent and which, as stated above, maybe made of celluloid or any other material through which the word or legend on the inner member may be read. An advantage of the construction shown in Fig. 5 is that'the protective covering 9 prevents the identifying word from becoming worn or rubbed off as the key is carried in the pocket. 7

Another form of the invention is shown in device is open at its lower 65 situated within the hood member and is cated between the side having the sight opening and the key. The sheet or label member 13 will preferably have an aperture 14 therein which is aligned with the apertures 11 in the hood member so that when the tag is applied to the key and the latter is placed on a key ring 1.0 the key ring will hold the label I 13 in position.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 8. In this construction the hood member, or at least one sidethereof, is made of transparent materiahsuch, for

instance, as celluloid and the identifying.

word or legend is placed on a label member 13 which is situated within the transparent hood and which is visible therethrough. This label member 13 will preferably have the construction shown in Fig. 7, that is, it is a piece of sheet material of the proper shape bearing the identifying legend and havin an aperture 14 situated to be aligned with t e apertures 11 in the hood member.

A kely be easi y applied to any key regardless of the shape of the key. It is not essential that the tag should be of the same sha e as the head of the key, since a semi-circu ar shape such as shown in the drawings can be used with keys having heads of mucus shapes.

This is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, Fig. 2 showin the hood applied to a key havin a round ead, and Fig. 3 showing it applie to a key having a diamond-shaped head.

The hood device may be made with rela- I tively thin walls so that when applied to the key it adds very little to the transverse thickness.

The tag can head of any key,

on the ke ring be easily slipped onto the and when the key is placed 10 with the latter passing as various other constructions would come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim The combination with a key having a head and a shank, of a hood-shaped key tag member open at one edge for the insertion thereinto of the head of the key, said hood-shaped member having an opening which is in alignment with the key ring receiving opening of the key when the head of the key is in the hood member, and a key ring passing through the aligned apertures of the hood member and key head and retaining the hood member on the head, the dimension of the hood member in the direction of the length of the key being such that the entire shank of the key projects beyond the hood member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT N. RIDGVVAY.

tag embodying my lnvention can i through t e apertures 11 of the tag and the I apertures 8 of the key the tag will be securely retained in position. The key ring prevents the tag from slipping off from the end ofthe' key and the side walls 4 prevent the tag from swinging with relation to the key, and hence said tag will be retained in proper position so long as the key is on a key ring 10.

The device has the advantage that it can be applied to any key without making any change in the key or without the necessity of using any tool for this purpose, and when applied to the key it provides a sure identi-' fication for the key.

While I have illustrated herein several Jembodiments of the invention, yet I do not wish to be limited to the constructions shown, 

